Our Latest Podcasts

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman is the latest film in the DC Universe, and a success with both fans and critics. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are excited to talk about the Amazonian superhero, and welcome New York Magazine culture writer, Abraham Riesman to the show! Kyle starts off with a little background on Wonder Woman’s lead creator, William Moulton Marsten, and how the feminist movement and his alternative family life influenced his work. Abraham describes the context that enabled Wonder Woman’s revival in the 1980s, and the myth making of George Pérez. In our production segment, Claire looks at what it took for Wonder Woman to get a live action movie, and what it meant for a female director like Patty Jenkins to be at the helm. Our hosts and guest conclude with their thoughts on the film itself and how it differentiates itself from the rest of the DC Universe. **Spoilers at 45:00**

The conclusion of our birthday specials! We’re stepping away from current nerdy topics and indulging in our all-time favorites. Kyle’s pick is the James Cameron film, Aliens,the 1986 sequel to Ridley Scott’s, Alien. Kyle gives us a little background on the original film before launching into the genre of military science-fiction, the influence of Robert A. Heinlein, and the fight to put women in space. This was a notoriously difficult movie to shoot, and Claire covers Cameron’s fight to enforce his vision on set, as well as the impact that this piece had on its genre and women as action heroes. Our hosts conclude with their thoughts on the movie, the franchise, and Cameron’s female superheroes.

A fun bit of DSRA trivia: The birthdays of Claire White and Kyle Willoughby are only 5 days apart! We’ve decided to celebrate this special time by taking a break from current nerdy topics and enjoying some all-time favorites. Claire’s pick is Treasure Island, the pirate adventure tale by Robert Louis Stevens. She begins the episode by unraveling how pirates became so beloved in our popular culture and the role that Steven’s novel played in this. Kyle jumps in with a look at the life of author and what inspired him to write this oft-adapted classic. Our hosts conclude with their thoughts on not only the book, but also the 1996 film adaptation, Muppet Treasure Island.

Kyle Willoughby is back! He joins Claire White to discuss the Starz television series, American Gods, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman. Claire considers Gaiman’s idea that America “eats other cultures”, and uses this thought to begin a discussion of the American Dream and what makes America distinct as a country. In the production segment, Kyle decides that although it’s necessary to talk about the showrunners, Brian Fuller and Michael Green, it’s more rewarding to talk about the brilliant Neil Gaiman and how the novel American Gods fits into his diverse career. Our hosts conclude with a discussion of the show’s first three episodes and their favorite works by Gaiman.

It’s that time of the year when Marvel begins its rampage through the box office. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, opened in movie theaters on May 5th and is poised to build on the massive success of the first film. Claire White and producer/guest host James Fouhey are ready to talk about this new sci-fi adventure, while Kyle takes a well deserved weekend off. James begins by explaining the origins of this oddball team and the cycle of creative influence between the comics and the films. Claire then breaks down how a script written by an intern, about some of Marvel’s most obscure heroes, got made in the first place. Our hosts conclude with their thoughts on the movie, and the future of the MCU.

The 1995 anime Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii, grappled with the moral questions of technology in a visually striking future. It spawned countless imitations and sequels, including this year’s live action remake directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are more interested in the original film and are taking the opportunity to talk about Transhumanism and cyberpunk! Claire covers the development of the Transhumanist movement and its current popularity in Silicon Valley. Kyle breaks down where the original film fits into the growth of the cyberpunk genre, and the creative process that may have led to the live action’s downfall. Our hosts conclude with their thoughts on the two films, as well as pressing questions, like: would you get a computer implanted in your brain?